Coin-controlled vending-machine.



W. A. PAYNE & C. W. GOSNELL.

I COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILEU AUG-31,1916.

1.21 9,861 Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

hueniors:

Wa Z/Zace A Payne, 3 Charles Willz'arn Gosnell,

W. A. PAYNE & C. W GOSNELL. COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-31- I915.

Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inventors-I Wallace APayne3 Charles William 60822811, 4*! (QM/4w 516 W. A. PAYNE & C. -W. GOSNELL.

com CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-M11916.

Patented Man 20, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI 3.

lnuentors: mllace A .Pa yn/e, Charles mllzlam GosneZZ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALLACE A. PAYNE, OF STAUNTON, VIRGINIA, AND CHARLES WILLIAM GOSNELL, WgSHING-TON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGN-' M NTS, OF ONE-FOURTH TO WILLIAM M. WILLS AND WALTER P. MEHURIN, BOTH OF STAUNTON, VIRGINIA, AND THREE-FOURTI-IS TO SAID PAYNE.

COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING-MACHINE.

7 To all whom it may concern:

- WILLIAM GosNELL, residing at Washington,

District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Vending-Machines, of which the following is .a specification.

Our invention relates to a new and useful improvement in coin controlled vending machines, and moreyparticularly to the arrangement of the locking and releasing mechanism in connection with means for vending stamps or tickets, etc.

The present invention is somewhat similar to an improvement on a vending machine, an application for patent for which was filed by W. A. Payne, on December 6, 1916, and bearing Serial No. 65,236.

In a machine, of this character, as in the former machine, it is desirable to vend stamps of one and two cent denominations and in the preferred form as shown in the drawings, two sets yof locking and releasing ,mechanisms, as well astheir depending vending mechanisms, are illustrated, the one being the duplicate of the other except that the relative parts of the vending mechanisms are larger for the stamps of the two cent denomination than those .for vending the stamps of the one cent denomination.

The locking and releasing mechanism, as

well as the means for vending the stamps of the two cent denomination are so arranged that one complete turn of thehandle will vend a strip consistingof five stamps, whereas 'one complete turn of the operating shaft of theone cent stamp delivery mechanism releases but one of thesame.

The object of vending the two cent. stamps in a strip of five is that there is no coin now made of the two cent denomination and the machine is not designed as a profit-making one, that is, say. two 2 cent stamps for' five cents, but on theother hand the machine is designed and arranged'to receive aten cent piece and to-vend five 2s, and therefore does not necessitate any change making mechanism. It is often desirable, also, to, buy five Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented Mar 20, Application filed August 31, 1916. Serial No. 117,883.

Qs rather than one, and if simply two cents worth of stamps is desired two ls may be purchased.

It will be easily understood, however, that the principleof the machine remains the same even though it were desired to vend say two 2s or four 2s. In other words, the number of stamps vended depends upon the ratio of the gear on the operating shaft to the gears on the rollers of the vendingmechanism, so that if it is desired to vend. movmg picture tickets or soda tickets. or any .other form of tickets that are put up in rolls,

it may be easily accomplished by first predetermining the size or length of each ticket and providing gears, the ratio of one to the otherbeing such that with one revolution of the operating shaft, the rollers will vend or deliver the predetermined length ticket. I An object of our invention, therefore, primarily, is to provide a machine that will vend with one turn of the crank-shaft or operating shaft five 2 cent stamps after a ten cent piece is placed in the chute, or to vend a one cent stamp after the mechanism is released by the. reception of a one cent piece in' its proper chute.

Another object of our invention is to provide a locking mechanism wherein the deposit of a coin in the chute releases a catch mechanism, that is, in the path of the .dropped coin, and after the catch mechathen permitted to drop to a final receptacle and at the same time permit the actuating of the vending mechanism.

Another object of our invention is to provide a machine wherein after the operating shaft has been turned for a full revolution the said operating shaft becomes automatithe deposit of a further c 0 i 1r1...

Still another object of our invention is to provide a catch mechanism'at theinner end cally locked and may not be released until .ofan actuating arm so thatfit will be impossible to shake orpound the machine to release the actuating arm and' then steal the stamps from the stamp roll.

Still another object of the present machine is to so form the locking and releasing mechanism that it will be impossible to turn the handle with such rapidity that more than the arranged number of stamps will be vended therefrom; and to so arrange the operating levers, arms and catch mechanisms that the moment the coin is released from the catch mechanism the locking mechanism will immediately set, so that although the handle may be still turned until the stamps are vended therefrom, .the said operating mechanisms will be set so that it is impossible to turn the handle more than one turn, no matter how manipulated by a person maliciously trying to turn the stamps or beat the machine.

Still other objects of our invention are to provide a cabinet that will be neat in appearance, containing but relatively few parts, simple to operate, cheap to manufacture and proof against maliciousness to as great a degree as possible.

With these and other objects in view, our invention consists in certain new and novel constructions and combination of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming a part hereof Figure 1 is a perspective View of the coin controlled vending machine;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 22 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the coin controlling mechanism and showing a coin releasing the catch mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, the operating shaft having been turned and the coin dropped from the catch mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 4;

, Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 44 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is avertical section taken on line 55 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective of the catch mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings and Fig. 1 for the moment, an upright cabinet 1 is shown which may be made of any preferable material, and in this instance shown as made of stamped metal, and is provided at its rear with a hinged door 2 and at its bottom with a base 3 of any conventional design. Formed in the sides thereof may be cut-out portions 5 for the reception of hooks, bolts, or screws to fasten the same to a counter or support.

The cabinet is referably about three times as great in eight as in width, although the-height and width of the same may conform to any desirable figures. In the front of the machine are provided the two slots 6 and 7 and out of the upper one I proper denomination.

pass the five 2 cent stamps and out of the lower one the one cent stamp, as to be hereinafter referred to.

At the top of the cabinet 1 are also the two slots 8 and 9 for the reception of the pennies and the dimes, and placed between theslots is a member 10 for holding a card 11 which card designates into which slots and chutes the dimes and pennies are to be placed.

At the side of the machine are the two handle members 12 and 13, which handles operate respectively the operating shafts 14 for the distribution of the two cent stamps, and 15 for the distribution or vending of the one cent stamps.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 2 and 2", it will be noticed on the one side wall of the cabinet is fastened or secured the releasing mechanism so that the vending mechanisms for the stamps may be operated by the operation of the handles 12 and 13 which in turn revolve the operating shafts 14 and 15.

A description of the operating mechanism of the two cent stamps will be a complete description of the operating mechanism for the one cent stamps, it being heretofore mentioned that the ratio of the gears determines the length of the strip of the material to be vended, so that a description of one will suffice for the description ofthe other.

Securely fastened to the operatingv shaft 14 is a cam 16 having the projection 17 thereon. Pivoted above the cam member 16 is the right-angular crank'arm 18, the lower end of-which 19, is designed to come within thepatli of the revolving arm 17 of the cam, and the lower end of the arm 18 to be forced upwardly as clearly shown in Fig. 2 the arm 17 then passing from under the arm 18 so that the same may immediately occupy its previous position.

The said arm 18 is pivoted as at 20, as shown, preferably by a screw 21 so that the same may be withdrawn if ever desired.

Secured to the arm 18 and near the center thereof is the spring 22, the lower end of said spring being secured to a pin 23 form, in the side wall of the cabinet, the function of the said spring being to return the arm 18 to its normal position or back into the" path of travel of the arm 17 of the cam 16. The tensio. of this spring should be relatively great so that there is nochance for the vending of more than the stamps designed for the insertion of one coin of the A pin 24 also fastened in the side wall of the cabinet limits the downward or return movement of the said arm 18.

Secured on the inner and downward surface of the arm 18 is a contacting member 25 which impinges upon a lever 26, which lever is pivoted at its inner end by a screw 27 extending into the side of the cabinet,

and on the outer end of the said lever 26 is the catch member 28 shortly to be referred to. A pin 29 is also formed on this lever 26 to which is fastened a spring 30, the

otherend of said spring being fastened to A pin 32 limits the upward movement of this lever 26. Pivoted to the rear end-0f the lever 26 is the catch member 28 which is counterweighted at its rear end, the pivotal point and the counterweight being such that the same will tip forward when struck and weighted down by a coin.

As seen in Fig. 6, this catch member is of a rather peculiar construction, it being preferably made with the counterweight ex-' tending above the lever 26 and presenting a curved surface at both its upper and lower edges. The purpose of these curved edges is so that a' pin 34 may be placed directly below the lower surface of the catch member (when in its normal position) and directly above the rounded upper surface of the catch member is a further pin 35. By referring to Figs. 2 and 2 the function of these pins and the curved surfaces of this catch member is clearly apparent, that is, a movement ofthe arm 18 forces the lever 26 downwardly after the catch member 28 has been struck by a coin and the weight of the coin and the pin 34 contacting with the catch member 28 tend to force the said catch member to the position shown in Fig. 2 The upper pin 35 after the release ofthe coin, contacts with the upper portion of the catch member and helps return it to its normal position, or in other words, assists the counterweight.

The outer end of the catch member 28' has a cut-out or rounded portion as at 36 for the reception of a coin and which portion projects intothe chute 9, and at the upper end of the curved portion of the catch member is a hook 37 which is designed to hook over a pin onlug 38 when said catch member is in its normal or balanced .posi

tion.

Referring now for the moment to the chute 9and it is to be understood that the one chute is a duplicate of the other, with the exception that a slotted portion in the chute 8 is farther down on the chute than in the chute 9 so that the said slotted portions in both instances are within certain relationship to the projecting portion of the catch member 28there is a slot as at 39 so that the said catch member 28 may project therethrough. The lower part acts as a limit to the movement of the outer portion of the member 28, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 and directly opposite the cut-out. portion 36 of the member 28 1s a curved portion 40 in the in the said chute and contacting with the cut-out portion 36 of the catch member, will still be held by the shoulder 40' and by the lower portion of the said catch member, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 In' other words, the coin must not be dropped from the catch member until the operating shaft 14 is revolved and the arm 26 moved slightly down wardly.

The operating mechanism for the one cent stamps and the vchute, as before mentioned, is similar to the other, but it will be noticed that as the same plate serves for the two chutes, one on each side, it is necessary to reverse the catch member 28, that is, on the upper one the catch member is on one side of the arm 26 and on the lower one it is on the other side arm.

. Referring now to the vending machanism, which may be operated after the heretofore described mechanism is released, the same consists of a gear 41 on the operating shaft' 14, which in turn meshes with the two gears '42 which are on-the pinions 43, on which tioned in a standard 47. The tension on the rollers 44 and 45 is regulated by a set screw 48 which impinges against a spring member 49 to hold the said upper rollers tightly against the said lower set of rollers. A. ratchet wheel 50 is also positioned on the operating shaft 14 and is engaged-by a spring-pressed "holding pawl as shown, in Fig. 3 so that the handle may not be turned in the reverse direction.

. It is understood that the vending mechanism is not the gist of the. present. invention and any form of rolls or vending mechanisms might be .used with my improved form of controlling mechanism, and a short'd'escription is simply given to show the complete operation of the machine.

The operation of the machine, is as follows; Supposing it is desired to procure five 2 cent stamps, a ten cent piece is dropped in chute No. 9 and slides downwardly until it of the cam 17 against the end 19 of the arm 18 which in turn would tend to push the lever 26 downwardly, but which could not be done as the hook 37 is over the pin 38 '26, and the continuation of the movement of the handle and operating shaft 1.4: forces the arm 18 and the lever 26 to assume the position as shown in 2 that is, with the arm 26 extending below the horizontal, catch member extending downwardly by force of contact with the lower pin. 34. The coin will then drop from out of contact with the shoulder 10 and down through the chute to its receptacle. A further turning of the handle 12 permits the arm 18 and the lever 26 to again assume the position shown in Fig. 2, and cause the gear 11 meshing with the gears 42 to revolve the rollers 14 and feed the requisite number of stamps out of the machine. The locking mechanism has, however, swung back to the position shown in Fig. 2 the moment the arm member 17 has passed from under the point 19 of the arm 18, and on the complete revolution returns directly under the portion 19 of the arm 18 and is held from further movement until a further coin is again dropped in the chute and the catch member again released.

\Ve have found that the provision of a duplicate set of levers, that is, the lever 26 and the arm 18, is far superior in practical use than a single lever with a catch member on the outer end thereof. The machine will lock much more quickly after the coin has been dropped, and by providing a spring pulling downwardly on one arm and upwardly on the other lever, no matter how fast the handle may try to be revolved the action of the arm and lever in returning to its normal position is so quick that it is impossible to revolve the handle more than once unless a plurality of coins may be inserted.

From the foregoing, it may be seen that the coin-controlled mechanism is very simple and very positive in its action, the spring 30 pulling the lever 26 upwardly the moment thepressure is taken off the same by the cam 17 escaping under the point 19 of the arm 18.

Many slight changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is to be understood that tickets in rolls may be equally as well vended as stamps, the size of the individual stamp or ticket simply being in certain relation with the gears on the rolls and operating shaft.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a coin controlled vending machine, an operating shaft, an actuating arm, means for operating the arm from the shaft, a lever adapted to be actuated by said arm, a vertical chute, a catch member on said lever extending into said chute, means engageable by the latch member to normally hold said arm and lever in a locked position said catch member being adapted to be tripped by a coin to unlock said arm and lever.

2. In a coin controlled vending machine, an operating shaft, a vertical chute, an actuating arm, means for operating the arm from the shaft, a lever pivoted beneath the inner end of said arm and provided with a catch member at its innerend, said catch member extending into said chute, and means adapted to be engaged by the catch member to hold the arm and lever in a locked position.

3. In a coin controlled vending ma'chine, an operating shaft, an actuating arm, means for operating the arm from the shaft, a lever pivoted directly below said actuating arm, a catch member secured to the end of said lever, means engageable by the catch member to hold the arm and lever in a locked position and means for normally holding the said lever in an elevated position.

4. In a coin controlled vending machine, an operating shaft, an actuating arm, means for operating the arm from the shaft, a lever pivoted at its outer end beneath the inner end of said arm, a catch member piv oted to the inner end of said lever, a chute, the end of said catch member, extending into said chute, means engageable by the catch member to retain the arm and lever ill a locked position, means for holding the lever in an upper position, said catch member adapted to be released when struck by a coin, and means for holding the arm normally down.

' 5. In a coin controlled vending machine, an actuating shaft, an arm, means for operating the arm from the shaft, said arm being substantially right angular in shape, means for normally holding one end of said arm in its lowermost position, means for limiting its downward movement, a lever pivoted beneath the inner end of said arm,

a catch member mounted on said lever, a

chute, said catch member extending into said chute, means engageable by the catch member to hold the arm and lever in a locked position, means for holding the lever in an upper position, and said catch member being adapted to' be released when tripped by a coin, and a stop member for limiting the upward swinging movement of said lever.

6. In a coin controlled vending machine,

an operating shaft, an actuating arm, means for operating the arm from the shaft, alever pivoted directly beneath the inner end of said arm, a striking member on the lower surface of said arm and contacting with said lever, a catch member pivoted on the inner end of said lever, a chute, said catch member extending into said chute, means I engageable by the catch member for normally holding the said lever in an upper position, and means for normally holding said actuating arm in the path of the means for operating the same.

7. In a coin controlled vending machine,

an operating shaft, an angular actuating ing arm, a catch member pivoted on the inner end of said lever, a chute, said catch member extending in said chute, means engageable by the catch member for normally locking the arm and lever, said'catch member being adapted to be released when struck 'by a coin and unlock said arm and lever. 1

8. In a coin controlled vending machine, an actuating shaft, an actuating arm, means for operating the arm from the shaft, a lever pivoted below said actuating arm, a chute, a

. catch member mounted on the inner end of said lever and extending into said chute, means for holding one end of the actuating arm downwardly,- means for holding the lever upwardly, means engageable by the catch member for locking the arm and lever,

said catch member being adapted to be released when struck by a coin, and means for swinging the catch member upwardly after being "struck by a coin.

9. In a coin controlled vending machine, an operating shaft, an arm, means for operatingkthe arm from the shaft, a lever adapted to be operated by said actuating arm, a catch member mounted on the lever, a chute, said catch member extending into said chute, means engageable by the catch member for normally holding the arm and lever in a locked position, said catch member being adapted to be released when struck by a coin and means for swinging the end of said catch member downwardly when said operating shaft is operated.

ating-arm, a chute, a catch member pivoted 10. In a coin controlled vending machine, an operating shaft, an actuating arm, means for operating the arm from the shaft, a lever pivoted below the inner end f said actuating arm and adapted to be moved by said actuto' the inner end of said lever, means engageable by the catch member for normally hold-.

ing the arm and lever ina locked position,

means located below the end of said catch member for swinging the catch member to release the coin when said operating shaft is operated, and means located above said catch member for causing the movement of the same when returning to its normal position'.

11. In a coin controlled vending machine, an operating shaft, an actuating arm, means for operating the arm from the shaft, a lever pivoted beneath said actuating arm and adapted to be moved thereby, a weighted trip mechanism pivoted to the inner end of said lever, a chute, said weighted catch member extending into said chute, said catch member adapted to swing forwardly when struck by a coin, said chute being provided with a shoulder for retaining said coin on said catch member. I I,

12. In a coin controlled Vending machines,

an operating shaft, an actuating arm, means\ earned by the shaft whereby the arm is.

raised and lowered by the turning of said shaft, a lever pivoted beneath the said actuating arm and adapted to be moved by the actuating arm, means for holding the end of said actuatingarm in a lowered position and means for holding the lever in an elevated position, means for limiting the upward movement of said lever, means for limiting the downward movement of said actuating arm, an unbalanced catch member pivoted on said lever, a chute, said catch member extending into said chute and adapted to be tripped when struck by a coin, means engageable by the catch member for normally locklng the arm and lever, said chute having a shoulder for retaining the coin on said catch member until said catch member is actuated in consequence of the movement of said actuating shaft, means for finally turning the catch member when said actuating shaft is moved and means for'guiding the catch member to its normal positlon upon its said chute being provided with an enlarged portion, said catch member adapted to be swung when struck by a coin and the said coin is held in the enlarged portion of said chute, means for limiting the downward movement of said catch member and means for guiding the catch member'to its normal position.

14. In a coin controlled vending machine, i

an actuating shaft, an arm, means for operating the arm from the shaft, a lever adapted to be actuated by said actuating arm, a

catch member pivoted on said lever, said catch member having a relatively heavy upper portion, said catch member also being provided withan upwardly extending hook, the said catch member being so pivoted on said lever that the same will swing when struck by a coin, and means cooperating with said hook of said catch member to normally hold the arm and lever in a locked position.

15. In a coin controlled vending machine, an operating shaft, an actuating arm, means for operating the arm from the shaft, a lever pivoted directly below said actuating arm and adapted to be forced downwardly upon the movement of said actuating arm, a catch member pivoted at one end of said lever, said catch member being that it will swing when struc by a coin, means for assisting the swinging movement of said catch member when said actuating so pivoted shaft is operated and means for assisting I the catch member to return to its normal position when the coin is released.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signa- 25 tures.

WALLACE A. PAYNE. CHARLES WILLIAM GOSNELL. 

